How to send large files for free with these providers
With free services, you can send large files ranging from around 2 to 50 GB. The files are either sent directly via an email link or stored online and shared through a sharing link. Often, you can also set whether recipients can only view the files or edit them as well.
For security reasons, free email services limit the size of attachment files. For example, the maximum Gmail attachment size is 25 MB, while Outlook’s maximum file size is capped at 20 MB.
How to share big files for free without an account
HiDrive Share
HiDrive Share is the free IONOS solution for sending large files. Without registering, you can upload files via the website with a total of up to 2 GB per upload. You will then receive a download link that you can share for 7 days with any number of people via email or chat. After this period, the uploaded files are automatically and permanently deleted.
SwissTransfer
With the free file hosting service SwissTransfer, you can send up to 50 GB per transfer without needing an account or registration. The data is stored on certified servers in Switzerland and encrypted during both transmission and storage. You also have the option to protect transfers with a password. Files are available for download for up to 30 days and can be shared via a generated download link or by email with selected recipients.
WeTransfer
With the file hosting service WeTransfer, you can send files of up to 3 GB per transfer with the free version. The uploaded files remain available for up to three days and can be shared with others via a download link. Alternatively, you can enter both the recipient’s and your own email addresses, allowing WeTransfer to send the download link directly via email. You can make up to 10 free transfers per month.
TransferXL
With up to 10 GB of transfer volume per day, TransferXL offers a comparatively generous free quota. You can send files of up to 5 GB per transfer. The uploaded files remain available for up to seven days and can be shared with others via download link or email. Optional end-to-end encryption is available, and you can select the server location before uploading.
To send big files as large attachments, you can also reduce the file size, for example by creating a ZIP file.
How to send large files for free via the cloud with registration
Dropbox
Dropbox offers 2 GB of free storage, which you can use to share files through a shareable link. You can copy and send the link to specific files or folders and choose whether invited users have view-only access or editing rights. While a Dropbox account is not necessary to download the files, it is required for uploading them.
OneDrive
With OneDrive, Microsoft’s cloud storage service that requires registration, you get 5 GB of free storage for saving files on Microsoft’s servers. You can share files or folders by generating a sharing link, and decide whether recipients can only view or also edit the content. Simply copy the link and send it via email or chat. A separate OneDrive account is not necessary to download the files.
iCloud
Apple’s cloud storage lets you store all kinds of files in your own online storage of up to 5 GB. A valid Apple ID is required. With iCloud, you can share files or folders with others using a sharing link. Alternatively, you can share folders directly with other people and specify whether they only have view access or also editing rights. An Apple ID is not strictly required to download shared files.
Google Drive
With a Google account, you can use Google’s cloud storage Google Drive with 15 GB of free storage. This storage is shared by Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. You can store files in Drive and then share them via a sharing link, specifying whether others can only view, comment on, or edit the files. When composing an email in Gmail, you can also insert files directly as a Google Drive link or as an attachment.
